Written by Noreen Iftikhar, MD | HealthLine
Overview
Uric acid is a natural waste product from the digestion of foods that contain purines. Purines are found in high levels in some foods such as:
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certain meats
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sardines
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dried beans
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beer
Purines are also formed and broken down in your body.
Normally your body filters out uric acid through your kidneys and in urine. If you consume too much purine in your diet, or if your body can’t get rid of this byproduct fast enough, uric acid can build up in your blood.
A high uric acid level is known as hyperuricemia. This can lead to a disease called gout that causes painful joints that accumulate urate crystals. It can also make your blood and urine too acidic.
Uric acid can collect in your body for many reasons. Some of these are:
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diet
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genetics
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obesity or being overweight
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stress
Certain health disorders can also lead to high uric acid levels:
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kidney disease
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diabetes mellitus
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hypothyroidism
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some types of cancers or chemotherapy
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psoriasis
Read on to learn how you can lower uric acid levels in your body naturally.
Natural ways to lower uric acid
Limit purine-rich foods
You can limit the source of uric acid in your diet. Purine-rich foods include some types of meat, seafood, and vegetables. All of these foods give off uric acid when they’re digested.
Avoid or reduce your intake of foods such as:
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organ meats
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pork
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turkey
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fish and shellfish
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scallops
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mutton
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veal
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cauliflower
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green peas
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dried beans
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mushrooms
